Page 103 of Compelled Obedience

Then I took a risk because there was so much to live for.

I fisted my hand, slamming it into Colton’s groin, able to break free then scrambling several feet away. Sirens blared in the distance, the sound echoing in my ears. For a few seconds, everything was foggy, still in slow motion. But I sensed the end was near.

One way or the other.

Grant grabbed Colton by the collar, pitching him against the wall. Then he pressed the barrel of the weapon against his forehead. “Get prepared to meet your maker.”

“No!” I snapped, rushing closer. “Don’t do it, baby. He’s not worth it. Don’t do it.”

“She’s right, my friend. Let the authorities handle it.”

Grant hesitated, taking several deep breaths, his entire face pinched as he tried to decide what to do. “You son of a bitch. She trusted you. She fucking trusted you and all you wanted was money.”

“That’s not true! I lost my brother.”

Whether or not Colton’s words meant anything I couldn’t be certain. I moved closer, noticing Elizabeth was still cowering in the corner. “Grant. Look at me. We have our entire life ahead of us. Don’t let this man ruin it. You’re a good guy.”

Grant threw me a look just as at least three officers and four other people swept into the room.

One man approached, scanning the room then nodding at me as if he recognized who I was. “Hey, Grant. I can take it from here. Okay? Hand me the weapon. Come on. You don’t want to do this.”

Grant kept his firm grip on the weapon, even acting like he was going to pull the trigger. Then he slowly dropped his arm, Colton visibly relieved. As soon as the officer grabbed the weapon, Grant threw a brutal punch, knocking Colton to the floor.

Then the man I’d fallen desperately in love with rushed toward me, gathering me into his arms. “I got you, baby. And I’m never going to let you go.”

CHAPTER 25

A few days later…

Grant

“Cages.” I muttered, glaring at the steel structures, finally able to laugh. Then I heard shouts and groaned just as Parker approached.

“You love them. I know you do,” he said as he placed his hands on his hips.

“Uh-huh. They sure bring in the riffraff.” That included the baseball team, the Robins World Series win making them crazier than normal. “Jesus Christ. It’s going to be a very long night and I’m getting too old for this shit.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off Kerri, who was shaking her ass off. The hundred-dollar bills were flowing as freely as the liquor. She was having a ball and I was a jealous freaking beast.

“Hey. They’ve spent more money tonight that we had in revenue all last night. Plus. They’re only here for a couple more hours.”

“Thank God,” I snarled. The last few days had been an adventure, not one I wanted to repeat. With Drago’s body found washed up on the shore, the future of the LA Cartel seemed to be up in the air. At least I’d heard from Tristen that the disruption to the organization had removed millions of dollars from the streets. Sadly, it was only a matter of time before the shipments were replaced. It was a revolving door that I wanted no part of.

And I hadn’t gotten the satisfaction of ripping Drago to shreds. However, at least the beautiful woman who slept by my side every night had actually fallen asleep instead of staying wide awake terrified.

“The girls are happy.”

“Yeah, well, you’re going to need to find another cage dancer.” I lifted my eyebrows and glanced at him.

“Mr. Possessive. I knew you’d never allow Kerri to continue working the cages. I already hired another girl. Have you told her yet?”

Hissing, I glanced back and she blew me a kiss. “Nope. Tonight.”

“I don’t want any part of it. Incidentally, boss. There’s someone here to see you.”

“Isn’t that how the entire nightmare started a week ago?”

He threw up his hands. “This time he hung around.”

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